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Spelinspektionen: 71% of Swedes Gambled for Money Last Year
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71% of adult Swedes gambled for money in the past year – intriguing data we will explore in detail. The statistic comes from a gambling survey commissioned by the Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) and conducted by Enkätfabriken in November 2024.
Spelinspektionen does these studies annually. While this year’s results are not entirely unanticipated, they shed light on current trends. Read the full article to learn more about the frequency, methods, and reasons for gambling, along with the social responsibility implications for Swedish gaming companies.
Key Figures & Findings
The gambling study included 1644 respondents aged 18 or above who reside in Sweden. Nearly three in four of the surveyed adults had participated in real money gambling activities at least once in 2024.
Number games and lotteries in Sweden remain the most preferred gambling activity. However, some findings raise questions about the societal impact of gambling. Here are the most important points and percentages:
| Key Factors | Key Figures |
|---|---|
| Total number of participants: | 1644 |
| Played online at least once in the last 12 months: | 71% |
| Of them, played almost every day: | 3% |
| – played a few times a week: | 33% |
| – played a few times a month: | 28% |
| – played for fun/entertainment: | 69% |
| – played to earn money for daily use: | 15% |
| – played from home: | 91% |
| – played from a game store: | 18% |
| Players with 1 online gambling account: | 44% |
| Players with 2+ online gambling accounts: | 23% |
| Players at sites with a Spelinspektionen license: | 65% |
Other Interesting Statistics
The survey reveals many other intriguing insights into the gambling habits of Swedes. From the importance of a gambling license to increased awareness of the national self-exclusion program, here are other key findings from the gambling survey:
- Most popular games: lotteries remain the most played gambling game in Sweden in the last 12 months, confirmed by 84% of the respondents. Sports betting follows at 19%, then bingo (14%), casino (12%), poker (4%), and physical slot machines (3%). Football and ice hockey are the most preferred betting sports at physical gambling venues.
- Choosing where to play: a Spelinspektionen license is a highly determining factor (important for 42% of the respondents), followed by brand reputation (33%). Those with more than one online gambling account prefer different operators because of the variety of games available, followed by the option to claim new bonuses.
- Gender gap in gambling: Of the 71% of adult Swedes who gambled last year, slightly more were men (75%) than women (67%). As the main reason for not participating, most men said, “tired of gambling”, while most women said, “not winning and never won”. The 32% who gambled without having an account included more women (42%) than men (24%).
- Responsible gaming behaviors: only 7% of respondents felt they were gambling too much in the last 12 months. While 66% are aware of the self-exclusion program Spelpaus.se, only 6% have used it. The main reasons given for self-exclusion are “I felt like I played a lot”, “tired of game ads”, and “relatives asked me to self-exclude”.
- Trust in player safety: 16% of the respondents think that gambling companies take responsibility for gambling-related problems. 19% think the market is healthy, and 46% believe it is safe. This is a slight drop from 21% and 52%, respectively in 2023. 65% of respondents play only on websites with a Swedish license.
Importance of the Study
The Spelinspektionen survey is so important because it outlines the gambling habits of Swedes in 2024. It is a key factor for all gambling operators when choosing the right set of socially responsible practices and tools for their users.
The survey has a big section of questions dedicated to responsible gaming. When asked, “How often do you play?” the largest group of respondents answered that they gamble every week.
The outcomes of 2024’s Spelinspektionen gambling survey create a clear picture of Sweden’s gaming industry. By comparing the results with studies from previous years, the Swedish regulator can identify new and emerging gambling problems.
A Look into the Future
The gambling habits of Swedes haven’t changed much from previous years. Many things will probably remain the same in the coming years. Yet, here are some of the major changes from this year’s gambling study, including short-term future projections:
- Awareness gap: there is an increased gender gap in the awareness of the national self-exclusion register, Spelpaus.se. 26% of men and 43% of women state that they are unaware of the program. This has slightly risen from last year’s survey and will probably continue to grow, as those who are not aware of Spelpaus.se gamble less frequently.
- Operator responsibility: there is a 10% increase in players who believe that Swedish operators take responsibility for gambling-related problems. In 2022, 61% of respondents answered positively, compared to 71% in 2024. This percentage is anticipated to grow in the coming years as more tools, such as gambling cool-offs, become widely accessible at real money casinos in Sweden.
- Preference for licensed operators: a Swedish license will likely remain the most important consideration when choosing where to gamble with real money. Most respondents said that they don’t play at unregulated sites due to the higher risk of missed payments (44%) and the danger of unsecured personal data handling (37%).
- Licensing awareness: the percentage of respondents who are not aware of “whether a gaming site has a Spelinspektionen license or not” (72%) will plausibly keep decreasing every year. Also, gaming operators will likely build their cooperation on player protection in 2025.
- Account usage: there has been more than a 5% increase in players who have used a single gambling account (44%), compared to 39% in 2022. However, those who gambled without a registered account last year are also less (32%) than in 2022 (47%). This clearly indicates that players will keep switching from free demo games to real money gaming in the coming years.
Conclusion
Last year’s gambling survey offers many important insights for industry professionals in Sweden. Regulators and operators are closely watching yearly trends to make sure that the industry strikes the right balance of safety and entertainment.
The gambling study reveals a stable and evolving industry, a trend that will likely continue into 2025. Seeing the value of such data, we hope other countries follow suit with regular surveys in the future.
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